Francisca M. answered • 11/20/14
Tutor
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Doctor who loves to teach...
Hi Nathan!
The key here is to remember how to solve for a variable in an equality. You must first isolate the x. Remember that the way you do this is to do the opposite of the what is happening to the number you want to move.
In this case:
you want to move the -5 from the left side to the right by doing the opposite, ADDING it to both sides:
Like this:
27x-5 + 5 = -5+11+5
Adding like terms gives:
27x (because -5+5 =0) = 11 (because -5+5 = 0)
so 27x = 11
You continue to isolate the variable (in this case the x) by doing the opposite of what is happening to it on that side. (just like we did before)
27x means 27 times x. So in order to move the 27 to the right side you have to divide by 27.
27x/27 = 11/27
(27 divided by 27 = 1)
1x = 11/27
in other words
x = 11/27
*Remember isolate the variable by moving all the number you don't want to the other side.
*the way you move numbers is to do the opposite of what is happening to it. If it is being subtracted you added, if it is being added you subtract it, if it's being multiplied you divide, if it's being divided you multiply it. What this does is it cancels the number on the side you don't want it by putting it on the other side.
*You continue to do this until you have x all by itself!
Hope this helps!!! Good luck!!
